Propeller



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Jan, 23, 1923.

' w. DOUGALL.

-PROPELLER. FILED JULY 31,1920.

INVENTOR. WILL/AM DoueAm BY v I A TTORNEY.

Patented Mi an 23,, W23,

v r-'1 a n P e m r m A t WW! we m m mg l l an i /V\ v ":v" a, it line ta is)! ill WILLIAM DGUGALL, 0F RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

PROPIWLLER.

Application filed July 31, 1920. Serial No. 400,388.

Riverside, in the cou ity of R verside d tit-ate of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propellers and has particular reference to that type of propeller which is used in marine propulsimi.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a propeller which will automatically and quickly adapt itself to the load.

Another object of this invention is to-produce a propeller which is extremely light in construction and which is free from ibration. v

A still further object of this invention is to construct a propeller which will auton'iatically adjust itself as to pitch.

Additional objects of this invention are to provide apropeller which will be eco nomical to run by using minimum power to accomplish maxin'ium work, a propeller which will overcome resistance when sailing when the propeller is idle, and a propeller which although being extremely light is strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a ship having the propeller applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a diagrau'unatic view showing the principle of operation of my propeller,

Figure 3 is a modified form of my in vention,

Figure 4: is a top plan view of the propeller as shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a pulling or reversing propeller employing my invention, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a ship having twin propellers and a reversing propeller.

It is a well known fact that the present rigid screw propeller at best is inefficient and a great waster of power, and for the from, as is best shown in Figure 2.

purpose of overcoming the various disarh vantages of these types of propellers l. have invented the propeller herewith disrnosel.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, toe numeral 5 designates the hull of a ship having a lteel t 1d a steering post 7 to which the usual rudder 8 is hinged. At 9 l have shown the usual propeller shaft protruding through a stuffing box 11 and having its free end journaled in the steering post 7.

Upon the end of this propeller shaft 9 and between the post 7 and the stuffing box.

11 there is placed the propeller, which is It will be seen that these blades are .j-icured to the shaft and extend radially therel't will also be seen that the blades are fin-shaped, but it is obvious that the shape may be variec In dotted lines as shown at 14 and 16 there is indicated. the position that the ends of the blades will take when the propeller is under action.

In Figure 2, l. have diagrammnticall shown the action of the water upon a single propeller blade wherein it will be noted that the circle it represents the shaft which is rotated in the direction of the arrow within the circle, The dotted circle B represents the area within which the void is shown to be created by the rotation of the propeller. The line CD refers to the normal position of the propeller blade, while the line F--F refers to the manner in which the blade will be flexed through the act-ion of the water pressing against it as indicated by the arrow G. it will, therefore, be seen that the lower portion of the propeller, indicated by the letter F, will scoop water toward the void, and at the same time will deliver water to the dead side of the propeller or the side away from the direction of rotation. In Figure 3 there is set forth a modified form of my invention, wherein the numeral 1'? refers to a cross piece attached to the propeller shaft 9 and adapted to be rotated thereby. To this cross piece I attach. blades 18 and 19 which are made of material capable of being flexed. In Figure 4- l have shown in dott d lines the position the blades 18 and 19 will take relative to each other when in action.

The modified form shown in Figure 5 is similar to that shown in Figure 3 except that the blades are attached to the opposite side of the cross piece which reverses the action and makes it a suction propeller or a tractor propeller and is useful in reversing a ship Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that in Figure 6 I have shown a fragmentary elevation of a ship having twin propellers, and I have here shown a propeller of the type shown in Figure 1 attached to the visible propeller shaft.

At 21 I have shown a shaft similar to the shaft 9 of Figure l, and to this shaft 21 I have shown a reversing propeller attached thereto, the construction of which is shown in Figure By equipping a vessel as shown in Figure 6 any desired maneuver can be executed.

.Vith the construction shown in Figure 1, reversing cannot be accomplished which, in some instances mi ht be an objection.

The operation ot the propeller is as follows: assuming the ship having the propeller mounted thereon to be stationary, the propeller shaft is started which revolves the propeller. The first action is to cause the water immediately surrounding the same to revolve therewith, this action, however, does not proceed very far before the tips of the blades, as shown in Figure 2, begin to flex and exert a forward movement on the ship. This forward movement will result in the water forward of the tips being brought into contact therewith, and the result is that a thrust is secured before the water can change its course, As the speed of the ship increases, this action accordingly increase-i and the amount of the flexing of the blade tips increases so as to secure a maximum push for the power used.

In the form shown in Figures 3, l and 5, the action is that after the shaft and its cross piece are revolved, the action of the water will act on the blades LS and l!) and cause them to flex, which flexing action will exert a push on the water surrounding them and a forward movement will be given to the ship.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a propeller, a shaft, and a plurality of blades radially disposed about said shaft, said blades having the inner i'nargins thereof parallel to said shaft.

2. In a propeller, a shaft, and a plurality of blades radially disposed about said shaft and having their inner margins parallel to the axis of said shaft, said blades being onpable of partial flexation.

3. In a propeller, a shaft, and series of fin-shaoed blades attached to said shaft, said blades being radially disposed with respect to said shaft and having rearwardly projecting tips, said tips being capable of being flexed through the action of a fluid thereon.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

IVILLIAM DOUGALL. 

